Train stopping and signaling apparatus.



H. G. SEDGWICK.

TRAIN STOPPING AND SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man JUNEZS, 1910. RENEWED NOV-9,19%.

1,1 86,237. Pmmamme 6, 1916.

'2 SHEETSSHEET I fw/ EW THE COLUMBIA PY-ANOGRAPH C0" \VASHINGTON, D. c.

H. G. SEDGWlCK.

TRAIN STOPPING AND SlGNALlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23.1910- RENEWED NOV. 9, 1915.

1,186,237. Patented June 6,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m5 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co. WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM G. SEDGWICK, 0F MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SAFETY APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TRAIN STOPPING AND SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed June 23, 1910, Serial No. 568,448. Renewed November 9, 1915. Serial No. 60,606. a

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HIRAM G. SnDewIoK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mill Valley, in the county of Marin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train Stopping and Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of so much of an apparatus as is necessary to illustrate the present improvements; Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 showing the tripper in the act of tripping the appliance on the railway vehicle; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tripper in another position; Fig. 2" is a vertical sectional view taken through the rotatable sleeve and shaft; Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections through the shoe and tripper devices showing the tripper arm in different positions; Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the gearing.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for tripping the brake pipe venting or the signaling means on the vehicle, and it is especially designed for use in connection with that type of train stopping and signaling apparatus covered by my copending application filed May 14, 1910 and numbered 561,486, the special object of the present invention being to render the tripper easier to operate from the motor and also to render it more nearly proof against being rendered inoperative by sleet, snow, dirt, etc., as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings annexed by ref erence characters. a designates a diagrammatic View of a motor for operating the trip per arm, this motor being of any suitable type but preferably the type disclosed in the above mentioned co-pending application. This motor will be adapted to be operated by a suitable electric system on the road bed, such, for instance, as shown in my before mentioned application. The shaft 6 of the motor extends through a sleeve 0 which is rotatably j ournaled in suitable pillow blocks (Z mounted on the road bed and which extends to a point near the side of the adjacent rail, Fastened, to the outer end of this sleeve is a hollow head 6 into which the outer wheel 9 is fastened rigidly to the depending end of the journal portion of the arm and is sufiiciently large to engage under a shoulder it formed in the head, whereby the arm is prevented from being withdrawn upwardly out of the head and the wheel 9 is kept in constant mesh with the wheel f. An annular flange or collar 2' on the arm which is provided with a depending hood-like flange k confines a series of anti-friction balls Z bearing against the upper end of the head 6, this upper end being formed into a race-way for the balls. In this way an antifriction bearing is provided for the rotatable arm and this bearing is protected against the entrance of dust and snow and sleet. The vertical tripper arm above the bearing consists ofa fiat plate m provided on one face with a vertical rib or flange n. The tripper arm is normally held in vertical position by means of a suitable number of contractile springs 0 attached to the sleeve 0 at opposite sides and to suitable posts 7) fastened to the road bed at a distance from the sleeve. In this way the tripper arm is held in a vertical position normally but is free to swing downwardly in either direction without rotating the tripper arm about its longitudinal axis. 7

On the locomotive or other railway vehiole is mounted a suitable ed to cooperate with the above described tripper arm to operate the train braking or signaling mechanism. I may use the device illustrated, which consists of an inverted trough or channel g mounted preferably between the driving wheels of the locomotive and having mounted upon it the pivoted cam 1' which is provided with an arm or finger 8 extending downwardly and rearwardly Within the channel of the shoe 9. This device can be used in connection with any suitable means which will operate a signal or train stopping means when the arm 8 is raised in the channel to thus swing the cam 2" forwardly. I have shown a pneumatic mechanism adaptcylinder 25 in which is mounted a piston whose rod bears normally down upon the upper edge of the cam r. This cylinder is connected with a source of pressure through a pipe stand the cylinder is provided with a vent o, as shown in my former application hereinbefore referred to, whereby when the cam r is swung forwardly the air pressure in the cylinder 25 will force the piston downwardly far enough to open vent o and in that manner apply the brakes or operate the signaling mechanism.

In its normal position the tripper: arm is set at danger, that is, it is held with its fin or rib a facing in the direction of the oncoming train. Unless therefore this tripper arm is rotated to safety position by the motor, the rib n will pass up into the channel of the shoe 9 as the locomotive passes the tripper and strike the arm a and actuate the cam controlling the venting device. The mechanism will be provided however for so actuating the motor, in case the conditions are such that the train is not to be stopped or signaled, that the motor will rotate the tripper arm to safety position, that is, with its flat side facing the on-coming train. In this safety position, it will be observed that no part of the tripper arm will be permitted to pass up into the channel of the shoe to actuatethe tripping device therein, the width of the tripper arm being such that it will be compelled to ride along the lower edges of the flanges of the channel.

It will be observes that this invention is susceptible to a wide range of equivalents without departing from the spirit of the invention. In Fig. 5 1 illustrate one modification. In this modification instead of a rock shaft passing through the sleeve I employ a reciprocating rod Y) which is adapted to be reciprocated by a suitable motor. This rod carries instead of a toothed. wheel a rack bar 6 which meshes with a pinion 72" carried by the lower end of the rotatable tripper post. With this modified structure, it will be observed that a slight reciprocation of the rod 6 will be sufficient to rotate the tripper arm a half turn to adjust it to safety position and vice versa. In this construction it is desirable to employ a swivel joint at some point in the rod Z). as shown at 5 to permit the rack bar end of the rod to have a limited rotative movement independently of the part connected to the motor, so that when the tripper arm is thrown down in either direction by contact with the shoe on the locomotive all breakage of the parts will be prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the class set forth, a sleeve journaled on the road bed and extending to near the rail, eans resiliently holding said sleeve in normal position, an upright rotatable tripper arm supported thereon. and rotatable bodily therewith, and means for rotating said arm on lts vertical axis without rotating the sleeve, the upper end of said tripper arm being structurally different on opposite sides.

2. In an apparatus of the cla set forth, a motor and a shaft op rated thereby, an axially rotatable tripper arm and means for rotating it from s id shaft, and means for resiliently holding the trigper arm in an upright position, the upper end of said tripper arm being structurally difierent on opposite sides.

3. In an apparatus of the class set forth, an upright tripper and means for supporting it adjacent to atrack, means for axially rotating the tripper while in an upright position, said supporting means permitting the tripper to yield in either direction without rotatin itself, the upper end of said tripper arm being structurally different on opposite sides.

4:- In an apparatus of the class set forth, an axially rotatable arm supported vertically on the road bed, means for rotating said arm without shifting it bodily to bring it into operative or inoperative position, a support on the road bed for said arm adapted to rotate on a horizontal axis, and means for resiliently holding the support in normal position, the upper end of said arm having an operative side and a non-operative side,

said sides being structurally different 5. In an apparatus of the class set forth, a. sleeve journaled on the roadbed and entending to near the rail, means resiliently holding said sleeve in normal position,- an upright rotatable tripper arm supported thereon and rotatable bodily therewith, and

means for rotating said arm on its vertical axis without rotating the sleeve, the'upper end of said tripper arm. being provided with a projection on one side and being without projections on the opposite side, so that one side of the arm will be an operative side and the other side will be an inoperative side.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 15th day of June, 1910.

HIRAM G. SEDGVVICK; Witnesses:

CHAs. H. HUNTOON, F. C. Animus.

the "Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

